Firing-gear of breech-loading ordnance.



A. T. DAWSON & G. T. BUCKHAM. I'IRING GEAR 0F BREAGH LOADING ORDNANGB.

APPLICATION FILED JULY15,1909.

997,375. Patented July 11,1911.

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A. T. DAWSON da G. T. BUGKHAM.

PIRING GEAR 0F BRBACH LOADING ORDNANGE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY15,1909.

997,375, Patented July 11, 1911.

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A. T. DAWSON & G. T. BUGKHAM.

FIRING GEAR. OF BREAGH LOADING ORDNANGE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15,1909. 997,375, `Patented July 1.1, 1911.

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Patented July lll, 1911.

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A. 'I'. DAWSON & G. T. BUCKHAM.

FIRING GEAR 0I BEBAGH LOADING ORDNANGB.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15,1909.

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LUIIIA PLANOGIAPH :0., WASHINGTON. D, C.

Firing nevicata UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON AND GEORGE THOMAS BUCKI-IAM, OF WESTMINSTER, LON- .'DON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO VICKERS SONS & MAXIM, LIMITED, 0F WESTMIN- STER, ENGLAND.

FIRING-GEAR OF BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR TRnvoR DAWSON and GEORGE THOMAS BUGKHAM, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at 32 Victoria street, lVestminster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Firing-Gear of Breech-Loading Ordnance, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the firing gear of breech loading ordnance of the kind in which there is a box slide and a lock laterally movable therein for opening and closing the cavity into and from which the vent sealing tube or primer is introduced and extracted.

The said invention is particularly intend-` ed for use with firing gear of the kind in which the striker or needle is adapted to b-e initially withdrawn by a retracting lever that receives its motion from the pinion crank of the breech mechanism prior to the lock or other parts being actuated. \Vith firing gear of this kind, that is to say in which there is a lock laterally movable in a box slide, it is necessary, in the event of a miss fire occurring, to shift the lock into the open position in order to extract the vent sealing tube or primer and replace it by a fresh one. If during this operation the charge should explode owing to a hang fire there is a liability of the operator being injured by the unexpected recoil of the gun and the gases of explosion escaping through the open end of the axial vent. It has already been proposed to overcome this liability by providing` a device for enabling the operator (when a miss fire occurs) to withdraw the lock from its firing position and renew the vent sealing tube without operating Vthe breech actuating` mechanism and while standing in aposition of safety at one side of t-he gun so as to be out of the path of recoil should a hang fire take place. According to our invention the aforesaid device is of such a character that a handle or lever forming part of the said device and suitably-disposed for enabling it to be actuated by the operator from preferably the right hand side of the gun, is so contrived and combined with appropriate mechanism that when actuated it will operate to initially retract the firing pin or striker, lib- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led July 15, 1909.

Patented July 11, 1911.

Serial No. 507,697.

erate the lock and move it into the withdrawn or open position for extracting the used primer and permitting the introduction of a fresh one, such operation being effected by the manipulation of the aforesaid handle or lever alone and without, as aforesaid, requiring the breech actuating mechanism to be actuated.

In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect we will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation, Fig. 2 a plan, and Fig. 3 an end view as seen from the right of Fig. 2, showing one form of our improved device. Fig. 4: is an elevation. Fig. 5 a plan, and Fig. 6 an end vicwxas seen from the right of Fig. l, showing a modified form of our improved device. Fig. 7 is an elevation, and Fig. 8 an end View showing another modified form of our improved device. Figs. 9 and 10 are plan views of Fig. 7 showing the position of the parts prior and subsequent to the actuation of the said device. Figs. 11 to 14 are similar views to Figs. 7 to 10 showing another modified form of our improved device. Fig. 15 is an elevation, Fig. 16 a plan, and Fig. 17 an end view showing another modified form of our improved device. Figs. 18 to 20 are similar views to Figs. 15 to 17 showing another modified form of our improved device. Fig. 21 is a sectional elevation. Fig. 22 a vertical section taken approximately on the line 1.1. of Fig. 21, and Fig. 23 a transverse section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 21, showing a further modified form of our improved device applied to the firing gear of heavy ordnance, the breech mechanism of which is intended to be operated by powerdriven gearing.

Referring first more particularly to Figs. 1 to 20, A is the box slide, B the lock frame or casing and C the guide bolt which is carried by said casing and engages with the breech actuating mechanism in the usual manner for laterally moving the lock casing in the box slide when said mechanism is operated. D is the retracting lever which engages with the projection e on the striker casing E for initially retracting the latter by a sliding bar that receives its motion from the crank pinion of the breech mechanism and operates upon a finger cZ on the retracting lever in the known manner.

In the arrangement of our improved device shown by Figs. 1 to 3, the lock casing B is provided with a sleeve b in which a spindle b is mounted with its axis lying transversely with respect to the axis of the striker casing E, the outer end of the said spindle being furnished with a lock actuating handle or lever b2 and the inner end with a double lever Z23 Z21. The end Z23 of this double lever is adapted to bear against an arm d forming part of the striker retracting lever D and the other end Z21 is adapted to bear against a collar c formed on the guide bolt C by which the lock casing B is connected with the breech actuating mechanism in the usual manner. Zhen the operator desires to withdraw the lock independently of the breech actuating mechanism, he stands on the right hand side of the gun and operates the aforesaid actuating handle Z22 in a direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 3, thereby causing the end b4 of the said double lever to act upon the collar e and withdraw the guide bolt C and the end Z23 of the said lever to act upon the arm CZ of the striker retracting lever D and retract the striker or needle from the vent sealing tube. In Figs. 1 to 3 the parts are represented in this position. The lock can then be shifted into its open position by pulling on the said actuating handle Z22 toward the right, thus causing the extractor to eject the vent sealing tube which can then be replaced by a fresh one. The lock can then be pushed back and the parts returned to the firing position.

In the arrangement of our improved device shown by Figs. 4 to 6, we employ in place of the aforesaid transverse spindle, a longitudinal spindle a carried by a bracket a2 on the box slide and furnished with a curved lever av capable of moving in a plane transverse to the axis of the striker casing E, the curvature of the said lever being such that it will permit the movements of the lock casing to take place during the ordinary working of the breech mechanism without impediment by the said lever. One end of this curved lever has a handle a3 which is provided with a self-acting spring catch at that normally engages with a recess formed in a projection a5 on the swinging carrier so as to retain the lever in a stationary position when not in use. In addition to the said handle a3 the curved lever a may be furnished with an eye a for the reception of a lanyard if it is preferred to work the lever a by that means. The said curved lever has a spiral cam a1 which is adapted to bear against a collar c on the guide bolt C for retracting the latter. This curved lever is also provided with a spiral face a8 on its boss for acting upon an arm Z on the striker retracting lever D for causing the latter to retract the striker or needle. The end of the said curved lever opposite to that which carries the handle is provided with a projection or extension a, which, after the curved lever has operated to withdraw the guide bolt and retract the striker7 is adapted to bear against the socket C in which the guide bolt works and push the lock laterally in the box slide into its open position, thus causing the extractor to eject the vent sealing tube. During the return movement after a fresh vent sealing tube has been inserted in place, the said projection or extension a9 in the curved lever bears against a projection b5 on the lock and pushes it back again into the closed or firing position.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10 the device is actuated by a lanyard which is attached to a lever pivoted to the lock frame by an axis pin b1. This lever has an arm bs which engages with the guide bolt C and operates the same through the collar Cl thereof. The said lever also has an arm b9 for actuating the arm Z of the striker retracting lever D. Zhen a pull is exerted' on the lanyard the said lever Z2(i is caused to turn about the axis of its pin 1 and assume the position shown by Fig. 10 whereby the said guide bolt C is withdrawn. By a continued pull on the said lanyard the lock is shifted into its open position.

In the arrangement illustrated by Figs. 11 to 14, the device is also adapted to be actuated by a lanyard attached to a lever 51 which is pivoted to the main spring case of the lock by an axis pin Z211. The said axis pin has secured thereto an arm 512 at its upper end furnished with a roller for actuating the arm CZ of the striker retracting lever D. The withdrawal of the guide bolt C is effected by means of two arms Z213 Z214 that turn with the said axis pin Z211. The arm Z213 forms part of the arm 512 and the arm Z213 forms part of the arm 512 and the arm b1* forms part of the lanyard lever Z210. When the lanyard lever Z21O is operated by the lanyard the parts assume the position shown by Fig. 14 and by a continued pull on the said lanyard the lock is shifted into its open position.

In the arrangement illustrated by Figs. 15 to 17, the lanyard is attached to a lever 515 pivoted to the lock frame, the said lever being provided with a cam shaped arm Z21G arranged at right angles thereto. This cam shaped arm engages with the inner end of an intermediate lever Z211 carried by a horizontal axis pin Z218. Carried by this axis pin is another lever Z219 one end of which operates on the arm CZ of the striker retracting lever D and the other end of which engages with and operates to withdraw the guide bolt C.

In the arrangement illustrated by Figs. 18 to 20 the lanyard is attached to a lever 89, 'Mmmm secured thereto a lever 622 one end of which carries a roller that operates the arm d of the striker retracting lever D and the other end of which engages with the guide bolt C. The lower end of the said axis pin has secured thereto the arm 522 which also engages with the said guide bolt.

In the arrangement illustrated by Figs. 21 to 23, we have shown our improved device applied to the breech mechanism instead of directly to the box slide and lock, such arrangement being more particularly inf tended for use with heavy guns. In this case the crank pinion F is provided with the cam plate F for actuating the sliding bar cl2 that imparts motion to the aforesaid striker retracting lever D by acting upon the finger d thereofl for initially retracting the striker or needle. The said crank pinion is also provided with a link which is connected by means of a swinging arm or lever f2 with the sliding bar f4 for actuat ing the lock through the intervention of its guide bolt after the said cam plate F has operated to initially retract the striker or needle as aforesaid. We make the said cam plate F separate from the crank pinion F and so mount it thereon that in accordance with the posit-ion of a spring bolt F2 or the like carried by the crank pinion it is capable of moving wit-h the crank pinion or of moving independently thereof. During the ordinary working of the breech mechanism this cam plate F remains locked to the crank pinion by the spring bolt F2. This spring bolt is however so arranged relatively to a spring plunger G2 or the like mounted in the swinging carrier H that by actuating a hand lever G the spring plunger can be caused to displace the spring bolt F2 from its engagement with the cam plate F and become itself engaged with the cam pla-te. The said cam plate can then by the angular displacement of the hand lever, be moved on the crank pinion F independently of the latter, thus causing the sliding bar Z2 to actuate the retracting lever to initially withdraw the striker or needle and also causing the link f2* to actuate the guide bolt for shifting the lock laterally into its open position with out actuating the breech mechanism. In the example illustrated, the said hand lever G lies lengthwise across the axis of the crank pinion and forms part of an angularly displaceable plate G that is adapted to move about a pivot pin g mounted on the front of the carrier H co-axial with respect to the axis of the said crank pinion. At the upper end of this hand lever (2'. e. at the end remote from that which is grasped by the operator) and projecting inwardly from the angularly displaceable plate G is a boss g containing the aforesaid spring plunger G2. This plunger normally lies opposite the spring bolt F2 that connects the cam plate F to the crank pinion F. In the face of the carrier H and immediately behind the angularly displaceable plate G, is a segmental slot H through which the said boss g of the angularly displaceable plate projects and in which it works when the hand lever G is moved around the axis of the said pin g. The hand lever is recessed or hollowed out to receive a plunger lever G2 which is pivoted on a transverse axis pin g2 on the said hand lever G and engages at its upper end with the said spring plunger G2. This plunger lever also has a projection g* that engages with a slot h* (Fig. 22) formed in a segmental piece H* on the carrier and retains the hand lever in its normal position during the ordinary working of the breech mechanism.

Then it is necessary to extract the vent sealing tube without actuating the breech mechanism, the aforesaid handle G and its plunger lever G3 are grasped by the operator, whereby the plunger lever G3 is moved about its transverse axis pin g2 and causes the spring plunger G2 to protrude inwardly from the angularly displaceable plate G. In this movement of the spring plunger G2 it pushes the spring bolt F2 out of engagement with the cam plate F and itself comes into enga-gement with the latter. By then angularly displacing the hand lever G and its plunger lever, the cam plate F is turned about the axis of the crank pinion, thus causing-the striker or needle to be initially retracted and the lock to be moved into its open position by the means above described. During this movement the spring plunger G2 travels in the segmental slot H and the spring bolt F2 is held in its pushed back position by the cam plate F. The spring plunger G2 is held in its protruded position of engagement with the camplate by the projection g4 on the plunger lever G8 bearing against the surface of the segmental piece HAk on the carrier. When the hand lever G is angularly moved back again to its normal position, the said projection g4 on the plunger lever G2 rengages with its recess i* in the segmental piece H4, the spring plunger G2 returns to its housed position in its boss g and the spring bolt F2 reengages with the cam plate F and locks it to the crank pinion F, so that the said cam plate will move with the crank pinion when the breech mechanism is actuated in the ordinary manner.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In tiring gear for ordnance, the combination with a laterally movable lock frame adapted to be moved independently of the breech actuating mechanism, a striker, and a guide bolt mounted in said lock frame to engage with the breech actuating mechanism, of a lever operable from one side of the gun, and means whereby the said lever operates to retract the striker and withdraw the guide bolt.

2. In ring gear for ordnance, the combination with a laterally movable lock frame adapted to be moved independently of the breech actuating mechanism, a striker, and a guide bolt mounted in said lock frame to engage with the breech actuating mechanism, of a lever operable from one side of the gun, and means whereby the said lever operates to retract the striker, withdraw the guide bolt and move the lock frame laterally.

3. In tiring gear for ordnance,the combination with a laterally movable lock frame adapted to be moved independently of the breech actuating mechanism, a striker, and a guide bolt mounted in said lock frame to engage with the breech actuating mechanism, of a striker-retracting lever, a lock actuating lever operable from one side of the gun and means whereby said lock actuating lever is adapted to operate the striker retracting lever and the guide bolt and to move the lock :trame laterally.

4L. In ring gear for ordnance, the combination with a laterally movable lock frame adapted to be moved independently of the breech actuating mechanism, a striker, and a guide bolt mounted in said lock frame to engage with the breech actuating mechanism, of a striker-retracting lever, a lock actuating lever operable from one side of the gun and devices adapted to engage with the striker retracting lever and the guide bolt and to be actuated by the lock actuating lever.

5. In ring gear for ordnance, the combination with a laterally movable lock frame adapted to be moved independently of ,the breech actuating mechanism, a striker, and a guide bolt mounted in said lock frame to engage with the breech actuating mechanism, of a striker actuating lever, a lock actuating lever operable from one side of the gun, an

axle carrying said lock actuating lever and devices for engaging with the striker retracting lever and the guide bolt.

6. In firing gear for ordnance, the combination with the laterally movable lock frame adapted to be moved independently of the breech actuating mechanism, and the striker and guide bolt mounted in said lock frame, of a lock actuating lever pivoted to the lock frame, and means integral with the said lever for retracting the striker and withdrawing the guide bolt so that a continued pull on the said lock actuating lever causes the lock frame to move laterally to the open position.

7. In tiring gear for ordnance, the combination with the laterally movable lock frame adapted to be moved independently of the breech actuating mechanism, and the striker and guide bolt mounted in said lock frame, of a lock actuating lever pivoted to the lock frame, an arm integral with the said leverl for retracting the striker, and a second arm integral with the lock actuating lever for operating on the guide bolt to withdraw it.

8. In firing gear for ordnance, the combination with the laterally movable lock frame adapted to be moved independently of the breech actuating mechanism, and the striker and guide bolt mounted in said lock frame, of a lock actuating lever pivoted to the lock frame, a striker retracting lever, an arm integral with said lock actuating lever in contact with the retracting lever, a collar on the guide bolt and a second arm integral with the lock actuating lever in Contact with the said collar.

. In testimony whereof we aHiX our signatures in presence of two witnesses,

ARTHUR TREVOR DAISON. GEORGE THOMAS BUGKI-IAM.

lVitnesses HENRY KING, ALFRED PEAKs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of' Patents,

washington, D. o. 

